Psychological flourishing among young and middle-aged postoperative lung cancer patients: a latent profile analysis

Young and middle-aged patients after lung cancer surgery often bear multiple psychological pressures caused by illness and daily life. As a vital positive psychological resource, flourishing may help improve their postoperative psychological adaptation. This study aimed to identify the latent profiles of flourishing among young and middle-aged patients after lung cancer surgery, examine the characteristics of each profile and explore factors associated with these profiles.

Between August 2025 and June 2026, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on 404 young and middle-aged postoperative lung cancer patients from a tertiary specialized hospital in Anhui Province. Data were collected using general demographic questionnaire, Flourishing Scale (FS), Herth Hope Index (HHI), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ). Latent profile analysis was employed to identify distinct flourishing profiles, and multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to explore factors associated with profile membership.

The four-class model demonstrated optimal fit (entropy=0.806, LMR p = 0.022, BLRT p < 0.001). Four distinct latent flourishing profiles were identified: Moderate optimistic flourishing subtype (22.03%), Moderate interpersonal flourishing subtype (27.97%), Low flourishing subtype (28.22%), and High flourishing subtype (21.78%). Compared with the low flourishing profile, higher emotional response scores were associated with the moderate interpersonal profile (OR = 1.273, 95%CI = 1.094~1.480). Higher social support and emotional response scores were associated with the high flourishing profile (OR = 1.126, 95%CI = 1.017~1.248; OR = 1.221, 95%CI = 1.038~1.437). No variables were associated with the moderate optimistic profile.

This study identified four latent profiles of flourishing among young and middle-aged postoperative lung cancer patients, demonstrating substantial heterogeneity in positive psychological adaptation toward postoperative disease stress. Illness-related emotional responses and social support show distinct associations with profile membership. Medical institutions should deliver stratified and refined psychological management according to each patient's specific characteristics. Future longitudinal studies may explore the dynamic trajectories of these profiles.